Patent US5307462A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5307462A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch for sharing a peripheral device
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1992-10-21
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Granted: 1994-04-26
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Expires: 2012-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a switch that allows a peripheral device, such as a printer, to be shared by multiple computer systems. The switch connects to each of the computer systems, and also to the peripheral device being shared. The switch stores the current state of the peripheral device for each to the computer systems, so that when a particular system requests access to the peripheral device, the switch can restore the state of the peripheral device to the last state established by the system requesting usage. Therefore, the system requesting usage need not know that other systems may have used the peripheral device in the interim.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian I. Hastings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:30
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00236; H04N1/00238; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1211; G06F3/1212; G06F3/1213; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1229; G06F3/1278; G06F3/1285; H04N1/00912; H04N1/00915; H04N1/32; H04N1/32502; H04N1/32507; H04N1/32512; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0081; H04N2201/0082; H04N2201/0086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A switch for sharing a peripheral device between a plurality of systems, said switch comprising: a plurality of first transfer means for receiving data and commands from said plurality of systems; a plurality of peripheral state storage areas contained within said switch, one said peripheral state storage area connected to each of said plurality of first transfer means; a second transfer means for transferring data and commands from said switch to said peripheral device means for selectively connecting one of said first transfer means to said second transfer means comprising means for coupling said selected first transfer means to said second transfer means whereby data and commands received on said selected first transfer means are sent to said second transfer means, and means for transferring a state previously stored in said peripheral state storage area connected to said selected first transfer means to said second transfer means whereby said state is transferred to said peripheral device; and means for monitoring commands received on said selected first transfer means and for storing state changes in said connected peripheral state storage area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A switch for sharing a peripheral device between a plurality of systems, said switch comprising: a plurality of first transfer means for receiving data and commands from said plurality of systems; a plurality of peripheral state storage areas contained within said switch, one said peripheral state storage area connected to each of said plurality of first transfer means; a second transfer means for transferring data and commands from said switch to said peripheral device means for selectively connecting one of said first transfer means to said second transfer means comprising means for coupling said selected first transfer means to said second transfer means whereby data and commands received on said selected first transfer means are sent to said second transfer means, and means for transferring a state previously stored in said peripheral state storage area connected to said selected first transfer means to said second transfer means whereby said state is transferred to said peripheral device; and means for monitoring commands received on said selected first transfer means and for storing state changes in said connected peripheral state storage area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining each of said plurality of first transfer means and for selectively connecting one of said first transfer means to said second transfer means upon receiving a datum or command from said one of said first transfer means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising means for disconnecting said selected first transfer means from said second transfer means after said selected first transfer means fails to send additional data or commands to said second transfer means for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising means for disconnecting said selected first transfer means from said second transfer means if said selected first transfer means sends a termination signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining each one of said plurality of first transfer means and for receiving and storing a predetermined amount of data and commands from said one of said first transfer means if said second transfer means is connected to another of said first transfer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said means for continuously examining further comprises means for indicating a busy condition to said one of said first transfer means after receiving and storing said predetermined amount of data and commands and said second transfer means is still connected to another of said first transfer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining each one of said plurality of first transfer means and for indicating a busy condition to said one of said first transfer means if said second transfer means is connected to another of said first transfer means upon receiving a datum or command from said one of said first transfer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for sharing a peripheral device between a plurality of systems comprising the steps of: (a) selectively connecting one of said plurality of systems to a switch and further connecting said switch to said peripheral device whereby data and commands received from said selected system are sent to said peripheral device through said switch; (b) transferring a state previously stored in a peripheral state storage area, within said switch but connected to said selected system, to said peripheral device, whereby said peripheral device is set to a state previously defined by said selected system; and (c) monitoring commands received from said selected system and storing state changes in said connected peripheral state storage area within said switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process for sharing a peripheral device between a plurality of systems comprising the steps of: (a) selectively connecting one of said plurality of systems to a switch and further connecting said switch to said peripheral device whereby data and commands received from said selected system are sent to said peripheral device through said switch; (b) transferring a state previously stored in a peripheral state storage area, within said switch but connected to said selected system, to said peripheral device, whereby said peripheral device is set to a state previously defined by said selected system; and (c) monitoring commands received from said selected system and storing state changes in said connected peripheral state storage area within said switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 8 wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of: (a1) continuously examining said plurality of systems and connecting one of said systems to said peripheral device upon receiving a datum or command from said one of said systems.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 9 further comprising the step of: (d) disconnecting said selected system from said peripheral device after said selected system fails to send additional data or commands to said peripheral device for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 8 wherein step (a) further comprises the step of continuously examining each one of said plurality of systems and receiving and storing a predetermined amount of data and commands from said one of said systems if said peripheral device is connected to another of said systems upon receiving said predetermined amount of data and commands from said one of said plurality of systems.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 11 wherein step (a1) further comprises the step of indicating a busy condition to said one of said systems after receiving and storing said predetermined amount of data and commands and said peripheral device is still connected to another of said systems.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The process of claim 8 wherein step (a) further comprises the step of continuously examining each one of said plurality of systems and indicating a busy condition to said one of said systems if said peripheral device is connected to another of said systems upon receiving a datum or command from said one of said plurality of systems.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 8 wherein step (c) further comprises the step of: (c1) disconnecting said selected system from said peripheral device upon receiving a termination signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
193 words
A switch for sharing a printer between a host computer system and a facsimile receiver, said switch comprising: host transfer means for receiving data and commands from said host computer system a peripheral state storage area contained in said switch; FAX transfer means for transferring data and commands form said facsimile receiver to said switch; printer transfer means for transferring data and commands from said switch to said printer; means for selectively connecting either said host transfer means or said FAX transfer means to said printer transfer means comprising means for coupling said selected transfer means to said printer transfer means whereby data and commands received on said selected transfer means are sent to said printer transfer means, means for transferring a state previously stored in said peripheral state storage area to said printer transfer means when said host transfer means is selected, whereby said state is transferred to said peripheral device, and means for transferring a predetermined state to said printer transfer means when said FAX transfer means is selected; and means for monitoring commands received on said host transfer means and for storing state changes in said peripheral state storage area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
193 words
A switch for sharing a printer between a host computer system and a facsimile receiver, said switch comprising: host transfer means for receiving data and commands from said host computer system a peripheral state storage area contained in said switch; FAX transfer means for transferring data and commands form said facsimile receiver to said switch; printer transfer means for transferring data and commands from said switch to said printer; means for selectively connecting either said host transfer means or said FAX transfer means to said printer transfer means comprising means for coupling said selected transfer means to said printer transfer means whereby data and commands received on said selected transfer means are sent to said printer transfer means, means for transferring a state previously stored in said peripheral state storage area to said printer transfer means when said host transfer means is selected, whereby said state is transferred to said peripheral device, and means for transferring a predetermined state to said printer transfer means when said FAX transfer means is selected; and means for monitoring commands received on said host transfer means and for storing state changes in said peripheral state storage area.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining said host transfer means and said FAX transfer means and for selectively connecting either said host transfer means to said printer transfer means upon receiving a datum or command from said host transfer means, or connecting said FAX transfer means to said printer transfer means upon receiving a datum or command from said FAX transfer means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising means for disconnecting said selected transfer means from said printer transfer means after said selected transfer means fails to send additional data or commands to said printer transfer means for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 16 further comprising means for disconnecting said FAX transfer means from said printer transfer means if said FAX transfer means sends a termination signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining said FAX transfer means and for receiving and storing a predetermined amount of data and commands from said FAX transfer means if said host transfer means is connected to said printer transfer means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said means for continuously examining further comprises means for indicating a busy condition to said FAX transfer means after receiving and storing said predetermined amount of data and commands and said host transfer means is still connected to said printer transfer means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining said host transfer means and for indicating a busy condition to said host transfer means if said FAX transfer means is connected to said printer transfer means when said host transfer means sends a datum or command.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for selectively connecting further comprises means for continuously examining said FAX transfer means and for indicating out of paper condition to said FAX transfer means if said host transfer means is connected to said printer transfer means when said FAX transfer means sends a datum or command.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-04-25 | 1997-10-25 | 1998-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-04-25 | 2001-10-25 | 2002-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-04-25 | 2005-10-25 | 2006-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |